The Indian Government is seeking extra manufacturers for the Aakash, the $35 Android tablet that launched in the sub-continent in 2011.
The Aakash, built by British company DataWind to an India Institute of Technology spec, has been blasted for its slow processor speed, low battery capacity and unresponsive touchscreen. Mind you …

COMMENTS

DfID

So our government is sending money to India to put towards the poor and needy. Meanwhile the Indian government is trying to ensure that it's whole population has access to the internet through cheap devices. Does anyone wonder if priorities have got a bit cocked up?

Look, if the Indian government doesn't want to help it's needy, then it's none of our business. If it was then there wouldn't be any exceptions and we would be helping the poor and needy all over the world, including the UK. The fact that we aren't shows that putting money into India is only a method by which British civil servents get to keep their jobs.

Re: DfID

Does seem A about T, doesn't it?

However that stupid situation makes a bit more sense when you take it in a long-term global context. Basically, the future belongs to India and China - or at least they have the manpower, and are roughly evenly matched in population terms. Seeing as not many people think China needs more power in the world, having a country who can stand up to them is a good thing. And having that country as a best mate is a very good thing.

So, just like the Indian space programme being a bloody stupid idea whilst thousands of kids live in megaslums, we have to tolerate it so the Chinese don't get too big for their boots. And we give aid so we can hopefully help some of those kids whilst the government is focussing on dickswinging competitions.

Re: DfID

Re: DfID

To equate the poor and needy of the UK to the poor and needy of India shows a lack of understanding of the levels of poverty throughout India.

It's a serious simplification to suggest that there is one politics of India that always moves together; it's a federation consisting of 35 states or territories, many of them no more willing to help their neighbours than you and just as quick to play the 'look, it's none of our business what happens over there' card.

If you make the fair redistribution of wealth a criteria before a country qualifies for aid then another way of phrasing that is that you're reserving aid for strict socialist countries, of which none currently exist.

The logical conclusion of 'if we help some we must help all; otherwise we should help nobody at all' is that even if we hypothetically had the money and the means to prevent the deaths of 99% of those that starve each year then we shouldn't do so.

About 40% of the population of India lives below the international poverty line and hence face a daily struggle for food, suffer from curable diseases, etc. Our aid to India helps improve conditions for some of them. If we withdraw the aid, those people will be worse off. To my mind, that justifies the aid.

All I hea rin my head is...

"Doo dee. Doo dee. Doo Doo. Hello!"

"I have today for your delectations... An Android Aarrgh Cash; which funnily enough doesn't need much cash but will make you go Aarrgh, but I'll come back to that later. Firstly let's look at the packagin. Naught to three sad onions. Headphones I'd not trust within a mile of an ear..."

$35 tablet is a steaming turd?

Waste of money

This whole plan is a waste of money. $ 35 is a lot for a poor indian family, so that may be too much. The schools where they are supposed to use them do not have power in many cases, let alone internet. How are they going to use this thing?

Data who?

I'm trying to picture a Sales pillock in trendy specs and sporting an irritating novelty tie, standing in front of a room full of suits, after unveiling the name "Data Wind" on a whiteboard —and hearing only thunderous applause in response and not a single snigger or fart joke...